I tried to love this book. I REALLY tried. I wanted to love it so badly, because everyone else loved it so much. I just didn't. I loved the parts of tI tried to love this book. I REALLY tried. I wanted to love it so badly, because everyone else loved it so much. I just didn't. I loved the parts of the book in which the family members interacted with each other, when they talked and joked and argued and laughed and cried and worried and hoped. Sometimes Sarah Moss's writing is just beautiful, and when I observed this family living its life, I felt as if I were a fly on the wall. I could see the hospital, their house, their bedrooms, their kitchen, their car. It was all very clear.

However, mixed in with all that were descriptions of the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral. Chapters dedicated to the inner thoughts of the architect chosen to tackle the project after the war was over. There were long descriptions of historical events, of meetings with church and government officials. We learned how the architect made design decisions, and we learned about the politics involved in rebuilding the cathedral.

There were also chapters dedicated to the the early life of Miriam's grandfather. We learned that he was a hippy and all sorts of other meaningless information. These chapters disrupted the story. They were just plopped down in the middle of the life of this family. I understand that the stories about the cathedral are a metaphor for the family having to rebuild a life and a new normal after Miriam's illness. But why? Why did we need that metaphor? It didn't mean anything to me, and it got to where I skimmed and even skipped these chapters. I don't do that. Ever. But I was so glad to get to the last page of this book.

I wonder what's wrong with me that I had such a different reaction to this book than everyone else. I will give it 3 stars because Sarah Moss is a wonderful writer. I even copied some passages in my notebook because they were so beautiful.

This book basically, though, bored the hell out of me. All the tangents made me literally angry. I'm irritated, and I am going to go back and give The Gustav Sonata 5 stars instead of 4.5 because I enjoyed that book infinitely more than I enjoyed this one. I realize, after reading The Tidal Zone, that I was too stingy with my rating of Tremain's book. Sorry everybody. The Tidal Zone just didn't do it for me....more

This is a FANTASTIC book! I recommend it to all book lovers! I laughed throughout and I think, after several months, that this book marks the beginninThis is a FANTASTIC book! I recommend it to all book lovers! I laughed throughout and I think, after several months, that this book marks the beginning of the end of my reading slump. Thank you Jen Campbell!!...more

I usually don't write book reviews but i just have to say that this was one of the worst books I've ever read. there was no plot, no climax. and I greI usually don't write book reviews but i just have to say that this was one of the worst books I've ever read. there was no plot, no climax. and I grew to hate the main character. I wanted to dnf it but I was already about 250 pages in. it is 350 pages long, which was about 200 pages too long. I don't understand how this book gets such great reviews. I think this is the first one star book I've ever read. I just hated it. ...more